Texans report: Injured rookie Williams put on PUP list

The Texans had hoped each of their top three draft picks would be signed and ready to compete for starting jobs, or at least significant playing time, when training camp begins Friday.

Instead, the Texans are going to have to settle for two out of three.

While receiver DeAndre Hopkins, safety D.J. Swearinger and offensive tackle Brennan Williams are now all under contract, Williams won’t be on the field when practice starts.

Following recent arthroscopic knee surgery — Williams got hurt in the second rookie minicamp practice — he was placed on the physically unable to perform list Tuesday.

The good news is that doesn’t mean he’s lost for the year, but he’ll miss too much time this summer to realistically be a factor when the season starts.

The decision leaves the Texans short on depth at right tackle, where returning starter Derek Newton also is coming off a knee scope following the first season in which he saw significant playing time.

The Texans re-signed veterans Ryan Harris and Andrew Gardener during the offseason. Harris started twice at right tackle when Newton was hurt last year. Gardner has played in only five games over three NFL seasons.

Williams, a 6-6, 318-pounder who played with Texans backup quarterback T.J. Yates at North Carolina, missed four games last season because of injuries, but the Texans thought enough of him to make him the 89th pick in the draft.

He’s the second draft choice to be ruled out for the start of camp. Sam Montgomery, also taken in the third round, was placed on the non-football-injury list Monday.

Tickets to go on sale Thursday

The Texans will start selling single-game tickets at 10 a.m. Thursday through Ticketmaster online (ticketmaster.com) and at all Ticketmaster outlets, or by phone (800-745-3000). They cannot be purchased at the Reliant Stadium box office.